2.6. Determining Acceleration of Free Fall

Question 1

Experiment with picture

Answer 1

• A steel ball is held on an electromagnet.
• When electromagnet switched off, ball interrupts a beam of light and a timer started.
• As ball falls, it interrupts a second beam of light & timer stopped
• Vertical distance h is plotted against t^2
• s = ut + (1/2)at^2 and u = 0; s = (1/2)at^2 ie h = (1/2)gt^2
• View Diagram